Lower South Regional Report

Which Turfgrass is Best?

Lawns are a controversial subject these days. They certainly have their detractors who point to the need for water conservation and to the environmental effects of pesticides, fertilizers, and exhaust from mowers and other lawn care equipment. Yet the...
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Resources

Georgia Turf
Rain Lilies

Give Crape Myrtles a Summer Tune-Up
Back Off On Lawn Fertilizing
Water Wisely in Summer
Trim Interior of Fruit Trees
Hold the Shears on Spring Bloomers

Getting the Most Out of Shade Trees

On a hot summer day I really appreciate the giant shade trees in my yard. They provide a place to take a tolerable break from the summer sun either in a lawn chair or a hammock. Trees shade our homes, too, providing a break on the cooling bills. Around...
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Resources

Southern Shade Tree Web Sites
Spiral Soaker or Drip Hoses

Keep Spider Mites in Check
Don't Worry About Older Tomato Leaves Curling
Make Vacation Plans for Plants
Get in Last Planting of Winter Squash
Deadhead Blooming Plants

Take-All Root Rot

Growing a beautiful lawn has its challenges. There's the need to water, the challenge of weed invasions, and various insects and diseases that can show up to hamper your dream of a beautiful green carpet. However, in recent years we have been dealing...
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Resources

Peat Moss Topdressing for Control of Take-All
Spreading Peat Moss by Hand

Plant Heat-Tolerant Flowers
Mow Regularly For a Beautiful Lawn
Watch for Stink Bugs
Don't Spare the Shears
Plant Hot-Weather Veggies

Summer Sense

Summer can be a brutally hot season in the south. Temperatures in the triple digits and sparse rainfall can quickly turn our lush landscapes into a tawny, toasted wasteland, or sentence us to spending our days dragging hoses around the yard from dawn to...
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Resources

Skin Cancer Prevention
Wide-Brimmed Hats

Catch Scale Infestations Early
Give Blooming Plants a Boost
Protect Seedlings From Drying Sun and Wind
Control Crape Myrtle Aphids
Raise the Mower Blade

Shady Characters

When the summer sun bears down on our southern landscapes, we really appreciate shady areas. Shade makes the season tolerable and helps a lot with water bills that rise with the thermometer each summer. However when we give up light we often give up...
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Resources

Plants for Shade
Shrimp Plant

Prepare Spring Transplants for Summer
Keep Mower Blade Sharp
Attack Nutsedge
Eliminate Mosquito-Breeding Areas
Trim Blackberries

An Environmental Lawn?

Lawns are the outdoor carpets of our landscapes. They provide a place to relax, for the children to play, and for outdoor gatherings. They moderate summer temperatures by absorbing solar radiation and reducing reflected heat. They protect the soil...
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Resources

Home Lawns
Mexican Sunflower

Rejuvenate or Replace Cool-Season Color Plants
Making More Mums for Fall
Plant Heat-Tolerant Veggies
Putting Spring Bulbs to Bed
Watch for Fruit Rots on Squash

Gardening to Go

Looking for a creative way to beautify the landscape or to increase the space available for vegetable or flower gardening? Create a "garden to go." I'm talking about a mobile garden that you can move wherever you wish to add beauty and increase your...
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Resources

Container Gardening
Tomato Irrigator

Prevent Blossom-End Rot
Tolerate Evergreens Dropping Old Leaves
Include Hanging Baskets
Fertilize Tomatoes
Use Caution With Weed Killers

Bug Gardening

We plant gardens for a lot of reasons. Usually it's because we want to grow vegetables and flowers. Sometimes it's because we want to attract hummingbirds or butterflies. But what about other insects? Have you ever thought of gardening to attract bugs?...
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Resources

Farmscaping
Pillbug Trap

Prune Spring-Blooming Shrubs
Don't Let Weeds Get Ahead of You
Thin Fruit On Trees
Gradually Move Houseplants Outdoors
Get Ready to Fertilize Turf

Make Room for Zinnias

Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow, and perhaps the most common of our cut flowers. Most gardeners can recall growing zinnias, even in their childhood. For me, familiarity does not breed contempt, but rather admiration. I love this "blue...
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Resources

Drying Flowers and Foliage
Fruit Pollination Help

Check for Plum Curculios
Plant Warm-Season Vegetables
Give Transplants a Boost
Control Weeds Early
Plant Warm-Season Flowers

Start Spring Gardening Off Right

Spring gardening season is here, and gardeners are flocking to garden centers to load up on plants and products. I guess the best garden we'll ever have is in our mind's eye while shopping in the spring. Here are a few tips to help make that vision of...
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Resources

Pruning Woody Plants
Milk Jug Recycling

Prevent Winter Weeds from Going to Seed
Thin Fruit Trees
Caring for Camellias
Plant Warm-Season Vegetables
Prune Evergreen Shrubs

Beating Freezes in the Garden

When winter weather wanes and spring growth emerges, gardeners get a little edgy. With each passing day our plants push forth a little more growth as blooms open and leaf buds emerge. When a freezing night is forecast, we go to great lengths to...
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Resources

Freeze/Frost Maps
Deterring Pets

Finish Planting Bare-Root Fruit and Nut Trees
Control Scale Infestations
Give Melons and Squash a Head Start
Sow Cool-Season Salad Greens
Prevent Weeds From Seeding

Lower South Regional Report

Which Turfgrass is Best?

Resources

Reminders

Getting the Most Out of Shade Trees

Resources

Reminders

Take-All Root Rot

Resources

Reminders

Summer Sense

Resources

Reminders

Shady Characters

Resources

Reminders

An Environmental Lawn?

Resources

Reminders

Gardening to Go

Resources

Reminders

Bug Gardening

Resources

Reminders

Make Room for Zinnias

Resources

Reminders

Start Spring Gardening Off Right

Resources

Reminders

Beating Freezes in the Garden

Resources

Reminders